Showdown at the Sachsenring: Six-way title race in the Prototype Cup Germany

• Konrad duo Danny Soufi and Torsten Kratz arrive in Saxony as championship leaders
• Six pairs or individual starters could still mathematically win the title
• Antti Rammo is favourite in the Trophy competition

Munich. New territory for the finale of the Prototype Cup Germany: the title race in season three of the series for LMP3 prototypes will be decided at the Sachsenring (6th to 8th September) for the first time. Six driver pairings or individual starters are still in contention for the title as the racetrack near Chemnitz welcomes Le Mans prototypes for the first time as part of the DTM weekend. In pole position are Torsten Kratz (53/Mönchengladbach) and Danny Soufi (21/USA, both Konrad Motorsport), who top the table with their Ligier. The two qualifying sessions and both races will be streamed live at youtube.com/adacmotorsports. The races begin at 15:15 on Saturday and Sunday.

Still striving to successfully defend his title is last year’s champion Markus Pommer (33/Untereisesheim), who shares the driving duties in a Duqueine with Valentino Catalano (18/Westheim, both Gebhardt Motorsport) and currently lies second in the table, just eight points behind leaders Kratz and Soufi. With a total of 50 points up for grabs at the Sachsenring, the Gebhardt duo is well-placed coming into the finale. Also in with a mathematical chance of clinching the title are Julien Apothéloz (23/CHE) / Riccardo Leone Cirelli (16/ITA, both BWT Mücke Motorsport) and Keanu Al Azhari (16/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport) in two Duqueine cars, as well as Klaus Abbelen (63/Barweiler) / Felipe Laser (35/Leipzig, both Frikadelli Racing Team) and Antti Rammo (41/EST, MRS GT-Racing), who each drive a Ligier.

Based on the current standings in the Drivers Championship, Kratz and Soufi, who has already been crowned Junior champion, would be top favourites. However, Kratz is determined not to read too much into that. “The overall standings are so close that I am struggling to name a hot favourite. I actually feel that the Duqueine chassis will have a slight advantage over our Ligier chassis at the Sachsenring.” Despite this, he obviously believes that he and team-mate Soufi will be lifting the trophy at the end of the season. “With our package, we have actually been able to do really well at every track this season. Only at the Nürburgring did we not fare so well, but we know in the meantime what the problem was. As such, I think we have a good chance; if we finish our races consistently and avoid any mistakes, we will come out on top in the end. I would rather be the hunted than the hunter,” says an optimistic Kratz.

Catalano, who along with defending champion Pommer is the biggest threat to Kratz and Soufi, is equally confident. “We are going to win the title, because we are the most determined, know what we are capable of, have a wealth of experience, and are well-prepared mentally. We keep a cool head, even on the final lap, when everything is at stake.” Catalano explains how the determination stems from the fact that they were unable to start one race in Hockenheim due to a technical issue, and consequently dropped back to third place in the Drivers Championship. However, they then reclaimed second spot in the overall standings at the Nürburgring. The young driver, who receives support from the ADAC Stiftung Sport foundation, only joined the Gebhardt Motorsport team this season and must initially familiarise himself with his new team’s set-up philosophy. “I had to adapt my driving style, be a bit more aggressive, brake later, and work harder on the steering wheel. That was my biggest challenge this season – one that I spent a long time working on, but that I have now mastered. As a team, we also worked very hard to find the right flow. After all, the combination of Markus, me and the Duqueine chassis was new to Gebhardt and everything had to slot into place.”

As well as the Drivers Championship, the title is also still up for grabs in the Trophy and Team competitions within the 2024 Prototype Cup Germany. Rammo travels to the final venue as the leader in the Trophy class for amateur drivers, and is out to defend that lead against his only remaining rival for the title, Kratz. In the Team competition, Gebhardt Motorsport and Konrad Motorsport are separated by just three points ahead of the final two races of the year. BWT Mücke Motorsport, the Frikadelli Racing team and Mühlner Motorsport could also mathematically end the 2024 Prototype Cup Germany as the top team.

Broadcast time for the 2024 Prototype Cup Germany at the Sachsenring

Saturday, 7th September 2024
10:10 hrs	Qualifying 1, live	youtube.com/adacmotorsports
15:15 hrs	Race 1, live	youtube.com/adacmotorsports
Sunday, 8th September 2024
09:55 hrs	Qualifying 2, live	youtube.com/adacmotorsports
15:15 hrs	Race 2, live	youtube.com/adacmotorsports